Projo Biz Blog

By C. Eugene Emery Jr.
Journal staff writer

PROVIDENCE -- Two of the four stations still broadcasting an analog signal in the Providence/New Bedford market will keep those signals operational after Tuesday night's conversion to digital, but all of their regular programming, except for local news, will be replaced by information about how to make the switch to digital, officials from the Rhode Island Broadcasters Association said this afternoon.

All four, which have been broadcasting a digital signal for months, had wanted to to shut off their analog transmitters as of 11:59 p.m. Tuesday.

But yesterday the Federal Communications Commission declared that at least one station in each market must retain its analog signal for people caught flat-footed by the switch, which has been heavily advertised for months.

Under the plan, Channels 12 and 10 will go all-digital as scheduled.

Channel 64, the FOX affiliate, will continue to broadcast on its analog signal for two additional weeks and Channel 6 will be the last to station to switch, keeping its analog transmitter alive for 60 days, according to RIBA executive director Lori Needham.

But those two stations will only carry local news and the informational screens and videos

Channels 36 and 28 have already gone all-digital.

The only people affected by the switch are those who continue to receive their TV signal via an antenna. Cable and satellite TV customers will not notice any difference.

Needham said the association will be releasing further details this afternoon.

 Tags  New Bedford Providence Rhode Island Broadcasters Association

---